Rock Creek Roundup (September 18 Edition)

Posted by: Meagen Ryan, Director of Strategy Sep 18, 2009 0 Comments

This week’s Rock Creek Roundup features news about the new Code for America project, highlights the top 10 government agencies on Facebook, shares an exciting announcement from Google, and covers the latest online HR initiatives happening at the Department of Homeland Security. Let’s take a look:

• This week saw the launch of Code for America, a project that aims to match public service-minded coders with cities in need of web applications. The idea is based on the Teach for America concept, and aims to meet needs that cities have identified for themselves. This is different than Apps for America, which invites coders to take Government data and come up with an innovative use for it. As Jen Pahlka, one of the directors of Code for America, explained at the Gov 2.0 Summit last week, the benefit of this program will not only derive from the apps that are created (and which will be open source and available for use by all cities) but also from the interaction between young, energetic coders and dedicated civil servants. Government benefits from the influx of passion and talent, and developers get experience with public service.
• Quick, which government agency has the highest number of Facebook fans? If you guessed the White House, you’re right—with 327,592 fans and counting, it’s by far the most popular government agency on Facebook. But the Marine Corps, Army, CDC and State Department also make a strong showing in Federal Computer Week’s Top 10 Agencies with the Most Facebook Fans article. Check out the other agencies that made the list.
• Earlier this week, Google announced that it will begin to offer government agencies access to its cloud services through the GSA cloud computing storefront Apps.gov. Slated to begin in 2010, Google plans to offer federal, state, and local agencies a version of Google Apps that meet the specific requirements set out by the Federal Information Security Management Act. According to reports, Sun Microsystems and Microsoft are also planning on developing cloud applications that meet federal requirements.
• The Department of Homeland Security has just made it easier for job seekers to search and apply for jobs, as well as simplifying the recruiting and hiring process for the organization. Via their online tool TalentLink, the agency is meeting the Office of Management and Budget’s recent decree that agencies begin simplifying their job descriptions and mapping their hiring processes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also using the new website to handle its HR needs.

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Meagen Ryan

Director of Strategy

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